Liquid and gas contact apparatus



Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK H. WAGNER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE IBARTLETT HAYWARD OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARY- LAND..

LIQUID AND GAS CONTACT APPARATUS.

appucauon med :une 11, 1925. serial No. 37,796.

f This invention pertains to an improved liquid and gas contact apparatus or that type of apparatus commonly known inthe art as a scrubber. o

The main .object of the invention is to provide a scrubber wherein intimate contact will be eieed between the gas and the liquid. A further object of the invention is to provide means for ensuring the passage of the gas through the liquid, not only through that portion of the liquid which is .mechanically spra ed but also through the liquid as it reows from the spraying means to the pan or receptacle from which itis drawn by the mechanical sprayer.

v -The invention is illustrated in connection with a typical Feld scrubber (Patent No. 983,037) .and there is provided in the instant case means for securing a bubbling action of the gas throu h the re-ilowing, liquid by the use of a bubgle plate and caps. Means is also provided for maintaining a proper level y of the liquid upon the bubble plate and likewise means to prevent a surge of the sprayed liquid back over said late,'wh1ch would interfere with the proper ubbling action.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the apparatus in vertical sectional elevation; Fig. 2 a top plan view of a portion of one of the bubble lates;

Fig. 3 an e arged detail vertical sectional view of a ortion of one of the bubble plates, the underlying pan and the spraying means; and

Fig. 4 a'sectional plan showing a modified form of the bubblev cap.

As above noted, the invention is shown in connection with the so-called Feld scrubber, thou h it is to be understood that, in so far as t e generic invention'is shown, any means may be employed for pumping and spraying the liquid in the various sections of the scrubber.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the shell 'or casing provided at its lower portion with a gas inlet port 2,- and at its upper portion with a gas outlet 3, which latter opens into an eliminator chamber 4 provided with any preferred type of eliminator shown in t-he instant case as a series of plates 5. Extending vertically through the casing is a shaft 6 driven through any suitable means (not shown), and rovided atvits lower end with a liquid seal esignated'by 7 to prevent pasthrown sage of gas and liquid out and around the lower end of tlie shaft. A packing box may be employed.

A suitablegdrawwff 8 for the 'liquidex= tends into the bottom of the casing and liquid is supplied to the various impeller elements through pipes 9. It is to be understood, however, that anyvmeans for supplying the liquid may be employed.

In the drawing,Fig. 1, there is shown two pumping and spraying elements, though itA will be understood that a greater or less number may be emplo ed according to the capacity for which t e apparatus is designed. The structure shown divides the apparatus into two chambers,each having a pumping and spraying element therein, and consequently a description of one will suliice for both.

Secured to the shaft 6 is a series of inverted truncated cones designated generally by 10, tlie outermost member of which adjacent its upper end is provided with a series ofperforations 11. The cones at their lower ends dip into the liq-uid contained in a pan 12 which is provided with a series of radially disposed'suige breaking plates 13. Uponv rotation of the cone-shaped members 10, liquid` is drawn upwardly thereby and outwardlyV through the perforations 11 against tlie walls of the casing 1. This produces a line dispersion of the liquid, and the gas passing upwardly therethrough comes into intimate contact therewith and is thoroughly washed by such gas.

The pans 12, as will be seen, stand in spaced relation to the wall of the casing and the gas passes freely therearound, and would pass directly upward through the apparatus and through the spray above mentioned were not some obstruction put in its way. To prevent this free upward passage of the gas, I provide a bubble plate denoted by 14, which extends inwardly from the walls of the casing close to but not in cont-act with the VVouter surface of the outermost coneshaped member `10. An obstruction to the free'fflowof the gas upwardly throu h the apparatus is thus provided. The ubble plate is provided with a serieseof openings from which extend a series of tendin tubes or nozzles 15 (see more particular y Fig. 3), each of which has placed thereover a cap 16. The lower edge of the ycap-is serrated or provided with a series of upwardly exopenings, and when the cap is placed in an inverted posit-ion over the tube 15, it stands l in spaced relation to the tube and provides ing against the inner l y prevented from surging over the of the cap, and then a passage for the gas upwardly through the tube, thence downwardly and outwardly through the perforations or serrations formed in the lower edge of the cap or bell 16.

As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 2, a multiplicity of these tubes and caps are employed.

lt is designed to maintain the liquid at a level upon the plate 14 equal or substantially equal to the height 'of the tube 15, and to that end I employ a series of drain pipes 17, the upper end of which extends through the bubble plate to a height practically equal to that of the tubes 15. Preferably the upper ends of the drain pipes 17 will terminate in a plane slightly below that of the tubes 15 to ensure a slight head for the overflow. The lower end of the pipe 17 eXtends downwardly and dips into the liquid in the pan 12 therebelow, and as a consequence, the gas cannot flow upwardly through this pipe 17 inasmuch as its lower end is at all times sealed' by the liquid in the pan.

Extending around the bubble plate at a point intermediate the outer series of tubes and caps and the wall of the casing 1s a baille or surge-preventing plate 18. The lower edge of said plate is serrated and the plate stands parallel to the inner wall of the casing. I

instead of making the bubble caps round, they may be oblong, or in fact any desired shape, and in Fig. 4 such an oblong cap and a portion of hsbc-operating tube are illustrated.

ln action the pan 12 having been filled to the required depth with liquid, motion is imparted to the shaft 6, and when the requisite speed has been attained, the liquid in the pan will be drawn upwardly by the members 10 and sprayed outwardly, strikface of the casing and flowing-downwardly onto the bubble plate 14. This plate will soon become covered with liquid to a ,depth substantially equal to the height of thevtube 15, the overflow pipe 17 preventing undue accumulation of the liquid on the plate. |The sprayed liquid is plate and interfering with the proper action of the bubbleo caps by the upstanding sur e-breaking plate 18. The gas which is 'orced in through the port 2 must of necessity nd its way up through the tubes 15 and beneath the bubble caps. This it does, passing down through the liquid between the tube 15 and the overlying cap or bell 16, thence outwardly through the serrations in the. lower edge upwardly thro'ugh the i body of liquid which is maintained at all times upon the bubble plate.

The gas under pressure'passing upwardly through tubes 15 will depress the liquid inside the cap wall and will likewise raise the liquid slightly on the outside of the cap,

thus producing the liquid head for overflow.v

through pipe r pipes) 17, even though the upper end of the tubes and pipes should lie in the same plane. The gas ultimately passes into the eliminator chamber 4, -around and in contact with the eliminator plates 5, and finally to the outlet port 3.

While the structure above described sets up back pressure upon the gas, this may be taken care of by increasing the pressure upon the incoming gas and so proportioning the parts, to wit, the size of the tubes 15, the caps, and the depth of liquid maintained upon the bubble plates, as to render the apparatus highly effective. Any back pressure which ma exist is more than compensated for by the lintimate contact which is produced between the gas and from that which is produced between the gas and the spray as the former passes through the latter.

What is claimed is 1. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination of a casing; means for spraying a liquid transversely within the casing; a receptacle to which the sprayed liquid is returned and from which it is withdrawn by said spraying means; means for introducing gas into the casing and forcing the same upwardly through the spray; and means located intermediate the spraying means and the receptaclefor maintaining a body of liquid Within the casing at a point below the path of the spray, through which bodyof liquid the gas must pass as it is forced upwardly through the casing.

2. ln an a paratus of the character specified, the com ination of a casing; means for spraying a liquid transversely within the casing; a receptacle to which the sprayed liquid is returned and from which it is withdrawn by said spraying means; means for in-` troducing gas into the casing and forcin the same upwardly through the spray; an liquid sealed means located intermediate the spraying means and the receptacle through which the gas must pass as it is forced upwardly through the casing.

3. 1n an apparatus of the` character speci.- tied, the combination of a casing; a recapu tacle mounted therein, saidreceptacle standing in spaced relation to the inner surface of the casing; means for forcing gas upwardly through the casing and around the recapu tacle; means extending down into the rcceptacle and adapted to withdraw liquid. therefrom and to spray the same outwardly against the wall of the casing; a bubble plate extending transversely of the casing and lo cated intermediate the spraying means the receptacle, said piatfe serving to impede liquid asidel the direct upward flow of the gas through the casina; and means for maintalning li uid on said bubble plate at a predetermine level.

4. In an apparatus of the character speci'- ied, the combination of a casing; a receptacle mounted therein in spaced relation to the walls of the casing; a plate extending transversely of the casing and at a point above the receptacle; a series of tubes extending upwardly from openings formed in the plate; a cap overlying each of said tubes, the lower edge of each cap being serrated; a drain pipe extending from the plate to the receptacle; and'means for drawing liquid from the receptacle and spraying it outwardly above the plate.

5. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination of a casing; a receptacle mounted therein in spaced relation to theV walls of the casing; a plate extending transversely ot' the casing and at a pointv above the receptacle; a series of tubes ex-y tending upwardly from openings formed in the lower edge of each cap being serrated, a drain pipe extending from the plate to the receptacle; means for drawing liquid from the receptaclev and spraying it outwardly above the plate; and a surge-preventing plate mounted upon the bubble 'plate at a point outside of the tubes and caps, wherey the flow of the sprayed liquid on to the bubble plate will be regulated and controlled.

ing; and a. perforate plate extending inwardly from the casin at a oint above the receptacle and below t e pat of the s ray, said plate receiving the sprayed liquid w ereby intimate contact is had between such liquid and the gas as the latter is forced upwardly through the perforations.

7,. In an lapparatus of the character specified, the combination of a casing; a rotatable shaft extending upwardly therethrough; a receptacle extending transversely of the casing and spaced from the walls thereof; means secured to the shaft for withdrawing liquid from the receptacle and spraying the same laterally toward the wall of the casing; a plate extending inwardly from the casing at a oint above the receptacle; means associated) therewith for securin intimate contact between the liquid whic flows thereon Afrom the spray and gas which is forced upwardly through the a paratus' and means preventing theliquid lo m surging over the Tplate. the plate; a cap overlying each of said tubes,

8.In an a paratus of the character specified, the comi? mounted therein, said receptac e standing in spaced rela-tion to the inner surface of the casing; means for forcing gas upwardly through the casin and around the recep tacle; means exten ing down into the receptacle and adapted to withdraw liquid there-l from and to spray the same upwardly against the wall of the casing; and a bubble plate extending transversely of the casing and located intermediate the spraying means and the receptacle, said plate serving to impede the direct upward flow of the gas through, the casing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my' name to this s ciication.

FR DERICK H. WAGNER.

ination of a casin a receptacle 

